Court Decisions

Bagwell v. DOJ, No. 15-0531, 2018 WL 1440177 (D.D.C. Mar. 22, 2018) (Cooper, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning investigations into allegations of child sexual abuse on Pennsylvania State University's campus

Disposition: Granting in part and denying in part defendant's motion for summary judgment; granting in part and denying in part plaintiff's motion for summary judgment

• Litigation...

Am. Civil Liberties Union of Ariz. v. DHS, No. 15-00247, 2018 WL 1428153 (D. Ariz. Mar. 22, 2018) (Tuchi, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning "'alleged or actual mistreatment of children in DHS custody from January 1, 2009 to the present'"

Disposition: Granting in part and denying in part defendant's motion for reconsideration

• Exertion 7(C):  "The Court agrees it erred when it stated that...

In re Rogers, No. 17-06981, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 46632 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 21, 2018) (Chen, J.)

Re: Request for records maintained by San Francisco Criminal DNA Laboratory

Disposition: Dismissing plaintiff's complaint

• Procedural Requirements, Entities Subject to the FOIA:  The court holds that "[a] claim cannot be stated under FOIA because [plaintiff] is requesting documents and information from...

Kan. v. DOD, No. 16-4127, 2018 WL 1412066 (D. Kan. Mar. 21, 2018) (Crabtree, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning President Obama's plan to close military detention center in Guantanamo Bay

Disposition: Granting in part and denying in part defendant's motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of Search:  "[T]he court finds that defendant has met its FOIA obligations to...

Burke v. EOUSA, No. 15-1151, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44854 (D.D.C. Mar. 20, 2018) (Sullivan, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning third party for whom plaintiff had provided proof of death

Disposition: Granting defendants' renewed motion for summary judgment

• Exemption 3:  The court holds that "summary judgment is granted to the FBI on its Exemption 3 withholdings."  The court relates that "[t...

Leopold v. DOJ, No. 16-1827, 2018 WL 1384124 (D.D.C. Mar. 19, 2018) (Howell, C. J.)

Re: Requests for "'how'" FBI and Secret Service "'referenced or discussed internally'" two statements made in July and August 2016 by then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and third statement made in July 2016 by New Hampshire state legislator

Disposition: Granting defendants' motion for summary...

Dutton v. DOJ, No. 16-1496, 2018 WL 1384123 (D.D.C. Mar. 19, 2018) (Jackson, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning one plaintiff

Disposition: Granting defendants' motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of Search:  The court holds that "the declarations provided by defendant demonstrate that the agencies conducted...

Davis v. VA, No. 17-1325, 2018 WL 1357361 (10th Cir. Mar. 16, 2018) (Moritz, J.)

Re: Requests for requester's claims file

Disposition: Affirming magistrate judge's grant of government's motion for summary judgment

• Procedural Requirements, Searching for Responsive Records:  The Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit holds that "VA clearly demonstrated that it conducted a search reasonably...

Lopez v. NARA, No. 17-0133, 2018 WL 1342476 (D.D.C. Mar. 15, 2018) (Jackson, J.)

Re: Request for certain records concerning plaintiff

Disposition: Granting defendants' renewed motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiff's motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies:  The court holds that "[b]ecause plaintiff has failed to exhaust his...

Chase v. DOJ, No. 17-274, 2018 WL 1342479 (D.D.C. Mar. 15, 2018) (Boasberg, J.)

Re: Request for records concerning plaintiff's arrest, booking, and detention

Disposition: Granting defendants' motion for summary judgment; denying plaintiff's cross-motion for summary judgment

• Litigation Considerations, Adequacy of Search:  "The Court . . . finds summary judgment proper on the adequacy of the...